Skaha Park plaque proposal not done

The idea of a plaque commemorating the battle to save Skaha Lake Park may have been removed from council’s agenda this week, but it’s not gone.

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Lisa Simpson, spokesperson for Protect Penticton Parks, said they didn’t expect things to move so fast.

“It went to city council much more quickly than we had anticipated and it got out to the public before we had even had a chance to present it to our members,” said Simpson. Now, she explained, they have time to collect feedback from their members, as they had intended.

“I am getting together an email to give them a chance to vote on if they want a plaque and if they do what they want on it,” she said, explaining the 18-month opposition to leasing part of the park for commercial development deserves recognition.

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“I think it commemorates an important part of Penticton history. It was the work of a lot of people; 5,100 people came together and put in a lot of effort to make sure the park stayed green and natural,” said Simpson. “That deserves to be noted. But ultimately, it is going to be up to our members. They are going to tell us whether they want it there or not.”

Simpson adds that the wording, which outlines the opposition and concludes with “We must protect, preserve and promote our public parks for the benefit of all. Let us always remain vigilant,” was just a suggestion.

“We knew going in it would be their (city council’s) final approval as to what was on the inscription,” said Simpson.

Simpson said they are now collecting feedback from their members, and planning to present the results of that at their annual general meeting on Nov. 29. They hope to be able to return to council with the backing of their membership sometime in December.